Radio signal apparatus and method



y 1932- T. E. BROCKSTEDT 1,365,826

RADIO SIGNAL APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 1, 1936 INVENTOR THEOPHILE El. BRocKsTaDT ATTORNEY Patented '5, 193a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rnnormm n. imocxsrnn'r, or am rmcrsco, cnrromrm V nanro SIGNAL APPARATUS m METHOD Application filed December 1, 1926. Serial No. 151,915.

This invention relates particularly to a radio signalling apparatus for aiding navigation and aviation.

An object of the invention is to provlde an apparatus to send directional signals by means of radio waves that vessels and aircraft may be steered on definite courses to increase the safety of both marine and-aerial navigation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a radio signalling apparatus arranged to receive sustained pulsations of given requencies and to actuate signals that will v1- brate in resonance with the audio frequencies propagated by the station generating the pulsations.

- A still further object of the invention is to provide a radio signal receiving device equip ed with a plurality of independent signa ing devices, each pair of which are actuated on a different radio frequency, and so arranged that any desired pair of said signal devices may be made to respond to particular modulating pulsations to guide a vessel thereby in accordance with a predetermined course indicated by the particular di-- rectivel transmitted modulating pulsations.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby mechanism may be automatically controlled in accordance with the characteristics of the transmitted signals.

Other objects of the invention are to prw vide a radio signalling-apparatus-that will be superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness of operation, and facility and convenience in use and general efliciency.

In this specification and the annexed drawing, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms, and it is also to be understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is. desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawing,

Fig. 1 represents a planview of a crossed coil antenna directive radio beacon adapted to propagate radio signals over a determined zone.

Fig. 2 represents a view of the panel board used on my radio receiving set, constructed in accordance with my invention, and equipped with signalling devices.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of an audio frequency selector constructed in accordance with my invention, to be actuated by the pulsations of iven frequencies from the radio receiver and to translate the radio signals into signals that will be both audible and visible.

Fig. 4 is a plan view.

Fig. 5 is 9. dia ammatic view of a modified form of an '0 frequency selector.

The crossed-coil antenna directive radio beacon consists of two loop antennae crossed at an angle with respect to each other, signals being transmitted from each antenna.

If a vessel is so'steered that it remains on a line bisecting the angle formed by the two loop antennae, signals will be heard with equal intensity from both transmitting coils. If the vessel moves to one side or the other of 7 the bisector, which is known as the equisignal zone, signals will become stronger from one antenna coil and weaker from the other coil. Thus a vessel may steer a straight and definite course during foggy weather by so keeping the signals from the two loop antennae of equal intensity.

The various sending beacons will propagate signals on several different radio frequencies or wave lengths, and each antenna coil in my proposed system' may have a different characteristic si al of distinctive audio pitch. Normally, slgnals would be heard on a head telephone or on a radio loud speaker. My equipment to be hereinafter described will make the received signals visible to the navigator and will prove of special advantage in handling vessels on the courses laid out in the system for ship traffic control.

I intend utilizing the above system of radio si a1 propagation for a proposed system o ship traflic control. Ship. traffic lanes or courses would be laid out in a definite manner respecting the placement of the sending stations. Equi signal zones from beacons heretofore described would furnish definite courses on which ships could be navigated with safety.

In order to receive the signals transmitted from the crossed coil antenna 1 and 2, shown in Fig. 1, I provide a conventional t pe of radio receiving set on the vessel, whic is to be steered in accordance with signals propagated by the sending station. connection from the radio signal receiver (not shown) is diagrammatically illustrated at 3 in Fig. 3, and from said receiver, wires 4 and 5 connect to an audio frequency selector that consists of an electromagnet 6 which may or may not be separately energized b a source of current 7. I do not wish to llmit myself to the form of electromagnet shown in .Fig. 3. The electromagnet 6 is provided with an armature 8 which is adapted to be actuated by the pulsating current from the radio receiver; Thus, pulsating current from the receiver will cause the armature to vibrate in accordance with the audio frequencies propagated by the beacon coil antennas. This vibrating movement of the armature 8 is imparted to a lever 9 fulcrumed at 10 on a bracket 11.

The lever 9 is provided with a tuned reed 12 thereon. The reed 12 has a natural frequency of vibration corresponding to the audio frequency modulation of a particular coil antenna of a particular directive signal radio beacon. A contact 13 is provided adjacent the tuned reed to make contact therewith when the reed attains a definite degree of amplitude to close the circuit 14 which actuates the relay 15 and which, in turn, closes the circuit 16 to carry a current to a signal lamp or bell alarm 17 or other signalling mechanism. I do not wish to be limited to the form of relay illustrated, because it would be clearly within the $00 e of the invention to use difierent forms 0 relays.

The free end of the tuned reed 12 has an indicating flag attached thereon, which is sutably colored. The panel 18 shown in Fig. 2 is provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, and adjacent each opening I arrange a pair of annunciator units of the type shown in Fig. 3, so that each unit will present a reed flag in a corresponding opening of the panel. The reeds 19 on the right hand side of the panel openings will be striped in red, while their companion reeds on the left side of the openings will be striped in black, preferably to correspond to the color scheme employed in the buoyage system.

The tuned reeds in each opening of the panel have predetermined natural periods of vibration, and I have arranged the tuned reeds of each pair in such manner that one reed will respond to the audio frequency modulation of one transmitting loop antenna,

while the adjacent reed will respond to the modulation frequency of the other 100 antenna. In like manner, all pairs of ree shown vibrate in resonance with the audio frequencies propagated by the particular beacon which they represent. In practice, the group of tuned reeds indicated by the letter A will respond to signals from the sending beacons at predetermined intervals of time, and both pairs of reeds in the group A respond to signals transmitted on the same radio frequency. In a similar manner, the other pairs of tuned reeds would function in the groups B, G, D, and E. The corresponding characters, on the selector switch dial 21, designate and determine the proper tuning of the receiver for reception of desired signals from particular beacons transmitting on difierent wave lengths, and also facilitate selection of a particular course which it is desired that a vessel should maintain. When the vessel is in alignment with the equisignal zone of a particular beacon, this fact will be indicated by the equal amplitude of vibration of the representative pair of tuned reeds exposed to view on panel 18. When the vessel runs oif of the equi-signal zone, this fact will be recognized by the unequal amplitude of vibration shown by the tuned reeds. Likewise, the difference in the degree of amplitude of vibration of any pair of reeds will indicate when'and to what extent the vessel is off the equi-signal zone. This unequal amplitude of the vibrating reeds is also employed as a means, shown at 12 to 17, Fig. 3, to sound an alarm when the vessel might be on the wrong side of a course and would be in danger of colliding with vessels proceeding in an opposite direction.

Although I have described each reed as having a separate actuating means, I contemplate that it would be within the scope of my invention to have a single electro-magnetic actuating device equipped with a plurality of reeds thereon, as shown in Fig. 4.

Having thus described this invention, what I now claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A radio signal device comprising a plurality of differently tuned reeds arranged in side by side relation, a panel constructed to expose the reeds to View in pairs, and a radio apparatus having tuning means allowing audio-frequency currents thereof to become active upon selected pairs of reeds.

2. A radio signal device as defined in claim 1 in which the radio apparatus is made to transmit a double signal at a given wave range and in which the two reeds of a responsive pair respond to the two signals respectively.

3. In a radio signal indicator, comprising in combination a radio receiver; electromechanical means to translate audio-frequency output of said receiver; an annunciator panel to display and identify the translations of the aforesaid translating means,

another, means for transmittin signals thereover of different audiorequency values, a receiving device, two reeds responplitude of their movement the relative intensity of the two signals received.

5. In a radio signal indicator, a plurality of sets of directional aerials, each set comprising two arranged at an angle to one another, means associated with each set for transmitting signals over each aerial thereof of different audio-frequency values, a receiving device, a pair of reeds for each set of aerials responsive to the two audio-frequencies thereof respectively and operatively connected to the receiving device for operation thereby, and tuning means in the receiving device adapted to render the device responsive to any one of the sets of directional aerials whereby the correspbnding pair of reeds is made to respond, the two reeds of each pair being mounted in adjacent relation for visibly indicating by the comparative amplitude of their movement the relative intensity of the signals received.

6. The method of transmitting directive radio beacon signals, which consists in transmitting directively two independent and sustained tone modulations to produce zones of equal signal intensities, and giving each of .said sustained tone modulations a different characteristic harmonic frequency as distinguished from dot-and-dash modulation.

7. The method of transmitting and translating directive radio beacon signals, which consists in transmitting directively a plurality of independent and sustaned tone modulations to produce zones of equal signal intensities, giving each of said tone modulations a different audio frequency to characterize and distinguish said sustained tone modulations, translating said sustained tone modulations into resonant mechanical vibrati'ons, and makin said mechanical vibrations manifest to indicate the relative magnitudes of the directive radio beacon signals received.

8. The method of radio position finding which includes the steps of generating radio frequency oscillations, modulating said oscillations with a plurality of frequencies, directionally transmitting said oscillations to produce maximum transmission of waves modulated with the different frequencies in different directions, receiving and detecting said waves, and differentiating between the received waves b resonance to the modulating frequencies t ereof.

. 9. The method of radio position finding which includes the steps of enerating radio frequency oscillations, moduiating said oscillations with a plurality of frequencies, directionally transmitting said oscillations to produce maximum transmission of waves modulated with the different frequencies in different directions, receivin and detecting said waves, and differentiating between the received waves by mechanical resonance to the modulatin frequencies thereof.

10. The met 0d of radio position finding which includes the steps of generating radio frequency oscillations, modulating said oscillations with a plurality of frequencies, directionally transmitting said oscillations to produce maximum transmission of waves modulated with the different frequencies in different directions, receiving and detecting said waves, causing said waves to establish vibrations mechanically resonant to the modulating frequencies, and determining position relative to the direction of transmission by the relative amplitude of said vibrations.

11. The method of radio position finding which includes the steps of generating radio frequency oscillations, modu ating said oscillations with a plurality of frequencies, di- 100 rectionally transmitting said oscillations to produce maximum transmission of waves modulated with the different frequencies in different directions, receiving and detecting said waves, discriminating between said 105 waves by resonance to the modulating frequencies, and determining position with respect to the direction of transmission by the relative amplitude of the resonant vibrations.

12. The method of radio position finding 110 which includes the steps of inducing resonant mechanical vibrations by means of directionally transmitted waves having different directions of maximum transmission, and comparing the amplitudes of said vibration to determine the relative strength of said waves.

13. The combination with means for receiving and detecting a radio signal, of a pair of mechanically resonant elements mounted to permit simultaneous observation for comparison of the relative amplitudes of vibration thereof, and means actuated by the detected signals for driving said resonant elements.

14. The combination with means for receiving and detecting a radio signal, of a pair of tuned reeds mounted to permit simultaneous observation thereof, and means actuated by the detected signals for driving said reeds, whereby the relative amplitude of certain modulating frequencies in the received wave may be directly compared.

15. The combination with means for receiving and detecting a radio signal, of a palr of tuned reeds mounted side-by-side to vibrate in parallel planes for simultaneous observation, and means actuated by the detected signals for driving said reeds, whereby the relative amplitude of certain modulating frequencies in the received wave may be directly compared.

16. The method of transmitting directive radio beacon signals which consists in transmitting directively two independent tone modulations to produce zones of equal signal intensities and giving each of said tone modulations a different characteristic harmonic frequency as distinguished front dot-anddash modulation.

17. The method of transmitting and translating directive radio beacon signals, which comprises transmitting directively a plurality of independent tone modulations to produce zones of equal signal intensities, giving each of said tone modulations a different audio frequency to charact rize and distinguish said tone modulations, translating said tone modulations into resonant mechanical vibrations, and making said mechanical vibrations manifest to indicate the relative magnitude of the directive radio beacon signals received.

18. The method of transmitting and translating directive radio beacon signals, which comprises transmitting directively a plurality of independent tone modulations to produce zones of equal signal intensities, giving each of said tone modulations a different audio frequency to characterize and distinguish said tone modulations, translating said tone modulations into two distinctive mechanical actuating forces, and applying said forces to control mechanisms in accordance with the characteristics of the transmitted signals.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 20 day of November, 1926.

THEOPHILE E. BROCKSTEDT. 

